Imprisoned woman's plea to bishops

by Joanna Moorhead CATHOLIC bishops are to be asked to give their support to a campaign to exonerate Judy Ward, imprisoned for life in 1974 for the M62 coach bombing. Her appeal is due to be heard next April.
The Judy Ward Support Committee, which has just been launched, has announced it is to seek backing from church leaders including Catholics. Bishop Victor Guazzeili and Bishop John Crowley, auxiliaries in Westminster, are likely to be among the first targeted by the group. Organisers believe the backing of such high-profile figures as Cardinal Hume is unlikely, although he was one of the principal players in the campaigns to free the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six.
Paul May, chair of the Judy Ward Committee, said the aim of the organisation was to provide assistance and advice to the 42year-old prisoner, who is currently being held at Holloway after more than 15 years in the high-security wing at Durham "It is a very nerve-wracking time for anyone when they are waiting for an appeal hearing," said Mr May. "We want to give her practical help, and also to ensure that people outside get to hear about her and her story."
Judy Ward, who converted to Catholicism during a spell living in Ireland after she left school, was arrested in February 1974, ten days after an IRA bomb ripped apart a coach carrying British soldiers and their families on the M62. Twelve people, including two children, died in the blast.
Ms Ward originally admitted the bombings, but it was later discovered that she had also confessed to other bombings. The IRA denied she had anything to do with them, and suggested she was psychologically unstable. At her trial, although police had discovered she was 100 miles away, drinking with workmates at the time of the M62 bombing, she was found guilty of helping the bombers and sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years.
Ms Ward's supporters claim the fact that there was no fingerprint or identification evidence, nor any other arrests or any guns or explosives found, nor any connection with the IRA, cast serious doubts as to the safety of the convictions, and hope that the appeal next year will clear her name and set her free. Dr Frank Score, the forensic doctor whose evidence was dismissed as unreliable during the Birmingham Six appeal in March this year, was also responsible for providing some of the evidence against Ms Ward.
Billy Power, one of the Birmingham Six, is among the campaigners now working for Ms Ward. At the launch of the Judy Ward Support Committee he said it was important to ensure that her case became better known before her appeal. "We are determined that there should be no doubts that Judy has suffered a aerrible injustice and that she is
completely innocent of the crimes for which she was convicted," he said.
• A PRIEST who campaigns on behalf of the Tottenham Three, imprisoned for the murder of PC Keith Blacklock in 1985, has said he is "hopeful" that their appeal, due to be heard in London next week, will see their convictions quashed.
Fr Patrick Towe, who lives on the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham in north London, said he had been giving support and help to the families of Engin Raghip, Winston Silcot and Mark Braithwaite in the months and weeks leading up to the appeal:: He said he was planning to visitthe men in jail later this week.
Fr Towe and other local church leaders will take part in an ecumenical service this Sunday at St John Vianney's Church near Broadwater Farm, at which prayers will be offered for justice for the Tottenham Three, who many believe have been wrongly imprisoned. Cardinal Hume has said he is very pleased that an appeal is to be heard.